To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the work carried out by UNICEF and other multilateral agencies and non-governmental organisations in relation to children in detention in the developing world; and whether they have any plans to increase the role of the Department for International Development in that area.

In 2009, UNICEF estimated that more than one million children worldwide were deprived of their liberty by law enforcement officials (UNICEF, Progress for children, 2009). DFID supports several agencies which work to protect the rights of children in developing countries including those in detention, including UNICEF and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). While we do not evaluate the performance in this particular area of work of the multilateral organisations to which we provide funding, we do carry out a detailed assessment of their overall effectiveness through the Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) process. Based on the MAR, we seek to ensure that maximum impact is achieved with the funding we provide. DFID works closely with the multilateral agencies to ensure that they take action on identified weaknesses and continue to deliver value for money across programmes.

DFID also works with a number of non-governmental organisations primarily concerned with protecting children, for example Save the Children and War Child. Through War Child, we are helping children in detention centres in Afghanistan through improving the justice system as well as the conditions in the centres. Children are also being assisted to re-connect with their families and local communities when they leave the centres.

DFID does not currently have specific plans to increase its role in the area of children in detention in developing countries.